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(1st Session )(1st Session )

MarthaMartha"A Misunderstood "A Misunderstood

Life"Life"

We need to take a second We need to take a second look at Martha and force look at Martha and force ourselves afresh to ask ourselves afresh to ask the question, “What do the question, “What do we really know about we really know about

her?”her?”

John 11:5 says that the John 11:5 says that the relationship between relationship between Jesus and this family Jesus and this family

was a special one, “Now was a special one, “Now Jesus loved Martha and Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.her sister and Lazarus.

I. A Distracted I. A Distracted HeartHeart

In Luke 10:38-39, Martha In Luke 10:38-39, Martha carries the responsibility for carries the responsibility for

hospitality, and it is a hospitality, and it is a responsibility that she took responsibility that she took

very seriously. very seriously.

Jesus’ response was to Jesus’ response was to remind her of the need for remind her of the need for

lasting values (v.42). lasting values (v.42). What Martha is doing simply What Martha is doing simply

does not have the eternal does not have the eternal value that Mary’s choice value that Mary’s choice

displayed.displayed.

Martha needed to embrace Martha needed to embrace the spiritual nourishment the spiritual nourishment

that came from the that came from the teaching of the Savior.teaching of the Savior.

II. A Declared II. A Declared FaithFaith

Lazarus has been entombed Lazarus has been entombed for four days (John 11:17).for four days (John 11:17).

Even in the midst of her Even in the midst of her grief, Martha declares her grief, Martha declares her

confidence in Christ’s confidence in Christ’s ability and in His ability and in His

relationship with the Father relationship with the Father (John 11:22).(John 11:22).

She declares that Jesus isShe declares that Jesus isnothing less than…nothing less than…• The ChristThe Christ• The Son of GodThe Son of God• The One Who should The One Who should

come into the worldcome into the world

Jesus had stretched her Jesus had stretched her faith, and Martha had faith, and Martha had

responded to the challenge responded to the challenge with utter confidence in with utter confidence in

Him.Him.

In the darkest moment of In the darkest moment of tragedy of her life, she tragedy of her life, she

turned to Him by faith and turned to Him by faith and entrusted Him with her entrusted Him with her

heart.heart.

III. A Dedicated III. A Dedicated LifeLife

We see that Martha's We see that Martha's correction led to faith which correction led to faith which

leads to dedication. leads to dedication. Dedication makes spiritual Dedication makes spiritual

service an act of worship service an act of worship instead of mere empty instead of mere empty activity (John 12:1-3).activity (John 12:1-3).

If you compare it to theLuke 10 If you compare it to theLuke 10 passage, you see some strong passage, you see some strong

similarities and one major similarities and one major difference.difference.

The scene is the home of The scene is the home of Lazarus in Bethany.Lazarus in Bethany.It is suppertime.It is suppertime.

Mary is at Jesus’ feet.Mary is at Jesus’ feet.Martha (v.2) was serving.Martha (v.2) was serving.

The difference? The difference? This time, though Martha This time, though Martha

was still serving, her was still serving, her service was without service was without

complaint. complaint. She has learned to serve She has learned to serve

Jesus from the heart.Jesus from the heart.

Conclusion:Conclusion:There is no greater calling There is no greater calling than being faithful to the than being faithful to the task God has given you.task God has given you.

SermonSermon

(2nd Session )(2nd Session )

MalchusMalchus"The Window Of "The Window Of

Surprise"Surprise"

Sometimes surprises are Sometimes surprises are wonderful; other times, wonderful; other times,

surprises can break your surprises can break your heart.heart.

Surprises, whether good or Surprises, whether good or bad, can knock us back a bad, can knock us back a

little.little.

Of all the people surprised Of all the people surprised by the events that would by the events that would occur as Christ suffered occur as Christ suffered

and died, none was more and died, none was more surprised than Malchus.surprised than Malchus.

I. Who The I. Who The Surprised Man Surprised Man

WasWas

Malchus’ story appears in all Malchus’ story appears in all four of the gospel records, four of the gospel records, but is only named by John. but is only named by John. Malchus is the servant of Malchus is the servant of

the high priest.the high priest.

II. What The II. What The Surprised Man Surprised Man ExperiencedExperienced

A. Attacked by Peter A. Attacked by Peter (John 18:10)(John 18:10)

Simon steps out of the Simon steps out of the fearful band of Christ-fearful band of Christ-

followers and swings his followers and swings his sword.sword.

Three descriptions of Peter’s Three descriptions of Peter’s attack on Malchus:attack on Malchus:

Unprofitable; Unnecessary; Unprofitable; Unnecessary; Unenlightened.Unenlightened.

B. Healed by Jesus B. Healed by Jesus (Luke 22:51)(Luke 22:51)

Luke mentions that it was Luke mentions that it was Malchus’ right ear that had Malchus’ right ear that had

been lopped off.been lopped off.

C. Confused By BothC. Confused By BothThis series of events must This series of events must have brought confusion to have brought confusion to the heart and mind of this the heart and mind of this

poor slave.poor slave.

III. What The Surprised III. What The Surprised Man HeardMan Heard

Malchus was exposed to Malchus was exposed to 4 profound truths.4 profound truths.

Truth #1: Truth #1: The Plan of the Father The Plan of the Father

(Matthew 25:52-54)(Matthew 25:52-54)

Jesus makes it clear that it is Jesus makes it clear that it is none other than God the none other than God the

Father Himself whose Father Himself whose purposes were being purposes were being

accomplished.accomplished.

Truth #2: Truth #2: The Irony of the Arrest (Mark The Irony of the Arrest (Mark

14:48-49)14:48-49)

The One they sought The One they sought sufficiently fearful to sufficiently fearful to

require an army in order for require an army in order for the arrest to be successful!the arrest to be successful!

Truth #3: Truth #3: The Hour of Darkness (Luke The Hour of Darkness (Luke

22:52-53)22:52-53)

Malchus is now told that, in Malchus is now told that, in fact, he is a representative fact, he is a representative of the power and hour of of the power and hour of

darkness.darkness.

Truth #4: Truth #4: The Cup that Awaits The Cup that Awaits

(John 18:11)(John 18:11)

The cup the Father had for The cup the Father had for Jesus to take was the cup of Jesus to take was the cup of suffering embodied in the suffering embodied in the

cross.cross.

For the rest of his life, For the rest of his life, Malchus wore on the right Malchus wore on the right

side of his head the proof of side of his head the proof of an encounter with the God-an encounter with the God-

Man.Man.

In Christ, Malchus found In Christ, Malchus found what it was to be cared for, what it was to be cared for,

loved. That had to have loved. That had to have been a surprise, been a surprise,

considering how he met the considering how he met the Savior.Savior.

Conclusion:Conclusion:God’s expressions of love God’s expressions of love

and care for us should and care for us should surprise us as well.surprise us as well.

SermonSermon

(3nd Session )(3nd Session )

JobJob“The Path Of “The Path Of

Suffering”Suffering”

We are up against a We are up against a

faceless enemy—the faceless enemy—the

presence of evil.presence of evil.

There is no better place There is no better place

to turn than to Job.to turn than to Job.

I. What Job I. What Job

Experienced in Experienced in

SufferingSuffering

When in the grip of When in the grip of

suffering, what is it that suffering, what is it that

you are experiencing that you are experiencing that

adds to the burdensome adds to the burdensome

difficulty of it all?difficulty of it all?

A. Suffering feels A. Suffering feels

mysterious (1:1-12) mysterious (1:1-12)

Job knew nothing of the Job knew nothing of the

reason behind the reason behind the

suffering.suffering.

B. Suffering feels random B. Suffering feels random

(1:13)(1:13)

We are almost always We are almost always

unprepared for it.unprepared for it.

C. Suffering feels C. Suffering feels

overwhelming (1:13-19)overwhelming (1:13-19)

The weight of the relentless The weight of the relentless

nature of grief and loss can nature of grief and loss can

be one of life’s most be one of life’s most

suffocating experiences.suffocating experiences.

D. Suffering is experienced D. Suffering is experienced

alone (2:13)alone (2:13)

Eventually we see Job alone Eventually we see Job alone

in his pain—alone but for in his pain—alone but for

the presence of his God.the presence of his God.

II. How Job II. How Job

Wrestled With Wrestled With

SufferingSuffering

A. A question of justice to A. A question of justice to

the God of justice.the God of justice.

““If I cry out concerning If I cry out concerning

wrong, I am not heard. If I wrong, I am not heard. If I

cry aloud, there is no cry aloud, there is no

justice.” (Job 19:7)justice.” (Job 19:7)

B. A question of weakness B. A question of weakness

to the God of strength.to the God of strength.

““For God made my heart For God made my heart

weak, And the Almighty weak, And the Almighty

terrifies me…” (Job 23:16)terrifies me…” (Job 23:16)

C. A question of fear to the C. A question of fear to the

God of comfort.God of comfort.

““I am afraid of all my I am afraid of all my

sufferings; I know that You sufferings; I know that You

will not hold me innocent.” will not hold me innocent.”

(Job 9:28)(Job 9:28)

Job comes into the presence Job comes into the presence

of the God he has of the God he has

questioned.questioned.

Though God had not given Though God had not given

Job relief, God had given Job Job relief, God had given Job

Himself (Job 42:1-6)Himself (Job 42:1-6)

III. What Job III. What Job

Learned In His Learned In His

SufferingSuffering

A. Suffering is inevitable A. Suffering is inevitable

(Job 5:6-7)(Job 5:6-7)

It is the natural byproduct of It is the natural byproduct of

living in a world that has living in a world that has

been broken by sin.been broken by sin.

B. God is alive (Job 19:25)B. God is alive (Job 19:25)

Rather than questioning the Rather than questioning the

existence of God, Job’s existence of God, Job’s

suffering drives him to suffering drives him to

confirm it!confirm it!

C. God is aware (Job 23:10)C. God is aware (Job 23:10)God is fully aware of the God is fully aware of the challenges I face. And He challenges I face. And He feels the pain with me.feels the pain with me.

D. God is trustworthy (1:21)D. God is trustworthy (1:21)It is part of the lesson that is It is part of the lesson that is

only learned in the crucible only learned in the crucible of suffering.of suffering.

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ClosingClosing

PrayerPrayer